Wheel alignment and vehicle height adjusting apparatus

ABSTRACT

At least three length varying means, mounted between an upper end of a strut and a vehicle body, change the position of the strut in relation to the vehicle body, thereby enabling active adjustment of the camber, caster, and vehicle height.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on, and claims priority from, KoreanApplication Serial Number 10-2004-0106110, filed on Dec. 15, 2004, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wheel alignment and vehicle heightadjusting apparatus that actively adjusts the camber and caster of thewheel, as well as vehicle height.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The camber and caster of a vehicle can conventionally be adjusted onlyby separate maintenance. However, if the camber and caster are activelyadjusted according to driving conditions, the grip force of the tire,steering stability and ride comfort of the vehicle are improved.

Furthermore, if the vehicle height is adjusted during the vehiclemotion, the ride comfort can be greatly improved with the operation ofan electronic suspension system, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention actively adjust the camber, caster,and height of a vehicle, thereby significantly improving the grip forceof the tires, steering stability, and ride quality.

A wheel alignment and vehicle height adjusting apparatus includes astrut and a plurality of length varying means installed between theupper end of the strut and vehicle body. The length varying means may beextendably installed such that their lengths vary along a longitudinaldirection of said strut, and, in the preferred embodiments, three lengthvarying means are mounted to form a triangle with said strut at thecenter thereof. The length varying means can include hydraulic cylindersvarying in length by hydraulic pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the presentinvention, reference should be made to the following detaileddescription with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a wheel alignment and vehicle height adjustingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the principle portion of theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a hydraulic cylinder installed between the vehiclebody and bracket;

FIG. 4 illustrates mounting bolts coupled at an upper end of a strut;

FIG. 5 illustrates a state in which camber is adjusted according to theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates a state of adjusting a caster and vehicle heightaccording to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detailed view of the principle portion of a secondembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a hydraulic cylinder installed between the vehiclebody and bracket according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present inventionincludes a strut 1 and a bracket 3 equipped at the upper end of strut 1.At least three length varying means 13 are disposed between bracket 3and a vehicle body 5.

Strut 1 is coupled at the lower portion thereof to a knuckle 7 that isconnected to a wheel hub 9. Therefore, if the coupled position of theupper end of strut 1 in relation to vehicle body 5 is varied, the camberof the wheel and caster vary accordingly; that is, the upper end ofstrut 1 of the present invention can actively vary in its coupledposition relative to vehicle body 5.

Bracket 3 is formed in the shape of a disk, and the upper end of strut 1and bracket 3 are fixed via a plurality of mounting bolts 11 (see FIG.4).

Bracket 3 facilitates the performance of the present invention byallowing length varying means 13 to be installed without any significantvariation of a commonly used strut 1. Thus, bracket 3 is an element forinstalling length varying means 13 between strut 1 and vehicle body 5.In another embodiment, described later, length varying means 13 areplaced directly on strut 1.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, length varying means 13comprise hydraulic cylinders that vary in their total lengths byhydraulic pressure and are extendably installed in the longitudinaldirection of strut 1. Three length varying means 13 are mounted to forma triangle with strut 1 as its center.

The hydraulic cylinders are configured to receive the hydraulic pressurevia a hydraulic supplying apparatus (not shown), which is regulated by acontroller that receives inputs from sensors that detect various statesof the vehicle. The controller may comprise a processor, memory, andassociated hardware, software and/or firmware as may be selected andprogrammed by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on theteachings of the present invention.

Length varying means 13 may be incorporated with an electric motor, wormgear, rack, or the like.

Either the upper or lower end of length varying means 13 is fixed via anextendable member 15 to vehicle body 5 or bracket 3 (see FIG. 3). Ifthree length varying means 13 are inconsistently expanded and contractedin length and the inclination of bracket 3 in relation to vehicle body 5is changed thereby, then extendable member 15 absorbs the inclinationchange of bracket 3.

In the first embodiment, extendable member 15 is interposed betweenbracket 3 and the lower end of length varying means 13. Extendablemember 15 comprises a cylinder 17 penetrating bracket 3, and flanges 19connected to both ends of cylinder 17.

A support extrusion 23 is formed at the bottom of length varying means13 to penetrate cylinder 17 of extendable member 15. Support extrusion23 has at the bottom thereof a support flange 21 that contacts flange 19of extendable member 15.

Accordingly, the bottom of length varying means 13 indirectly affixes tobracket 3 via extendable member 15, thus allowing the inclinationbetween bracket 3 and extendable member 15 to be varied.

Adjustment of camber, caster, and vehicle height will now be describedaccording to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,which is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6.

Referring to FIG. 5, when any one of length varying means 13 expands orcontracts in response to the controller restricting the hydraulicsupplying apparatus, the camber is adjusted. If the hydraulic pressurelevel is increased in the length varying means 13 that is marked“operation” in FIG. 5, then bracket 3 and strut 1 rotate clockwise inrelation to vehicle body 5 and a negative wheel camber occurs. Likewise,if the hydraulic pressure decreases, bracket 3 and strut 1 rotateapproximately counterclockwise and the camber gradually turns positive.

In FIG. 6, if either the left or right length varying means 13 isexpanded or contracted, bracket 3 and strut 1 rotate either clockwise orcounterclockwise in relation to vehicle body 5, causing an increase ordecrease of the caster.

Provided that all of three length varying means 13 extend or contract tothe same length, then the location of strut 1 relative to vehicle body 5is changed, resulting in the adjustment of the vehicle height.

When the camber, caster, and vehicle height are actively adjustedaccording to the driving state, the grip force of the tire, steeringstability, and ride comfort can remarkably be developed.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the present inventionwithout the bracket. Three length varying means 113 are directly mountedbetween a strut top panel 103, which constitutes the upper end of astrut 101, and a vehicle body 105.

Either the upper or lower end of length varying means 113 is fixed viaan extendable member 115 to vehicle body 105 or strut top panel 103.Therefore, when three length varying means 113 inconsistently expand orcontract and the inclination of strut top panel 103 in relation tovehicle body 105 is adjusted, extendable member 115 absorbs the aboveinclination change.

Extendable member 115 is disposed between the lower end of lengthvarying means 113 and strut top panel 103 in this embodiment. Extendablemember 115 is constituted by a cylinder 117 penetrating the upper end ofstrut top panel 103, and flanges 119 connected to both ends of thecylinder.

The bottom of length varying means 113 is mounted with a supportextrusion 123 that penetrates cylinder 117 of extendable member 115 andhas a support flange 121 contacting flange 119 of extendable member 115.

In the second embodiment, the camber, caster, and vehicle height canactively be adjusted in a simpler structure than that of the firstembodiment.

As apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in that thecamber, caster, and vehicle height can be actively adjusted, therebyimproving the grip force of the tire, steering stability, and ridecomfort of the vehicle.

1. A wheel alignment and vehicle height adjusting apparatus, comprising:a strut; and a plurality of length varying means installed between anupper end of said strut and a vehicle body.
 2. The apparatus as definedin claim 1, wherein said length varying means are installed such thattheir lengths vary along a longitudinal direction of said strut, andthree length varying means are mounted, defining a triangle wherein thecenter of said strut exists within the perimeter of the triangle.
 3. Theapparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said triangle is at leastsubstantially equilateral and said strut is at least substantially atthe center thereof.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein saidlength varying means comprise hydraulic cylinders varying in length inresponse to hydraulic pressure.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1,further comprising a bracket disposed between the upper end of saidstrut and said length varying means.
 6. The apparatus as defined inclaim 5, wherein said bracket has the shape of a disk, and the upper endof said strut and said bracket are attached with a plurality of mountingbolts.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein an upper end ofeach of said length varying means is fixed with an extendable member tosaid vehicle body.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein alower end of each of said length varying means is fixed with anextendable member to said bracket.
 9. The apparatus as defined in claim8, wherein said extendable member comprises a cylinder penetrating saidbracket, and an upper and a lower flange connected to an upper and alower end of said cylinder, respectively.
 10. The apparatus as definedin claim 9, wherein a support extrusion is formed at a bottom of saidlength varying means to penetrate said cylinder of said extendablemember and has at a bottom thereof a support flange that contacts saidlower flange of said extendable member.
 11. The apparatus as defined inclaim 1, wherein an upper end of each of said length varying means isfixed with an extendable member to said vehicle body.
 12. The apparatusas defined in claim 1, wherein a lower end of each of said lengthvarying means is fixed with an extendable member to a top panel of saidstrut.
 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said extendablemember comprises a cylinder penetrating the upper end of said strut toppanel, and an upper and a lower flange connected to an upper and a lowerend of said cylinder, respectively.
 14. The apparatus as defined inclaim 13, wherein a bottom of said length varying means is mounted witha support extrusion that penetrates said cylinder of said extendablemember and has at a bottom thereof a support flange contacting saidlower flange of said extendable member.